SEAT BELT CUTTER

Abstract

A seat belt cutting device comprising a clip portion having a first half portion and a second half portion attached together at a first end by means of a hinge and at a second end by means of a clip and a blade portion extending along the mid section of the first half portion of the clip portion. The clip portion has a cavity with slotted parallel openings on either side to direct the seat belt there through. The blade portion includes a movable blade and a handle attached to the blade to pull the blade. The seat belt cutting device is configured to be mounted on a seat belt of a vehicle for cutting the seat belt following an accident.

Claims

1. A seat belt cutting device comprising: a clip portion having a first half portion and a second half portion, the first half portion and the second half portion attached together at a first end by means of a hinge and at a second end by means of a clip; and a blade portion extending along the mid section of the first half portion of the clip portion, the blade portion including a movable blade and a handle attached to the blade to pull the blade; whereby the seat belt cutting device being configured to be mounted on a seat belt of a vehicle for cutting the seat belt following an accident.

2. The seat belt cutting device of claim 1 wherein the clip portion has a cavity with slotted parallel openings on either side to direct the seat belt there through.

3. The seat belt cutting device of claim 1 wherein the clip may be released to open and close the clip portion around the seat belt for a tight fit.

4. The seat belt cutting device of claim 2 wherein the movable blade extends longitudinally in the cavity along a surface of and across the seat belt.

5. The seat belt cutting device of claim 1 wherein the movable blade has a protected serrated cutting edge disposed at one edge of the seat belt and inclined thereto for slitting the seat belt from side to side.

6. The seat belt cutting device of claim 1 is portable.

7. The seat belt cutting device of claim 1 can be any color to be quickly and easily accessible.

8. An automotive safety tool for attachment with a seat belt comprising: a clip portion having a first half portion, a second half portion and a cavity with slotted parallel openings on either side to direct the seat belt there through, the first half portion and the second half portion attached together at a first end by means of a hinge and at a second end by means of a clip; and a blade portion extending along the mid section of the first half portion of the clip portion, the blade portion including a movable blade and a handle attached to the blade to pull the blade; whereby the movable blade being inclined thereto for slitting the seat belt from side to side during an emergency.

9. The automotive safety tool of claim 8 wherein the clip may be released to open and close the clip portion around the seat belt for a tight fit.

10. The automotive safety tool of claim 8 wherein the movable blade extends longitudinally in the cavity along a surface of and across the seat belt.

11. The automotive safety tool of claim 8 wherein the movable blade has a protected serrated cutting edge disposed at one edge of the seat belt.

12. The automotive safety tool of claim 8 is portable.

13. The automotive safety tool of claim 8 is brightly-colored to be quickly and easily accessible.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top view of a seat belt cutting device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat belt cutting device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of the seat belt cutting device opened in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a back view of the seat belt cutting device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the seat belt cutting device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates the seat belt cutting device attached to a seat belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] The following describes example embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. This invention, however, may be embodied in many different ways, and the description provided herein should not be construed as limiting in any way. Among other things, the following invention may be embodied as methods or devices. The following detailed descriptions should not be taken in a limiting sense.

[0021] In this document, the terms a or an are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term or is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that A or B includes A but not B, B but not A, and A and B, unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, all publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) should be considered supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, top and side views of a seat belt cutting device 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention are respectively illustrated. The seat belt cutting device 10 essentially comprises a clip portion 12 selectively securable to an associated flexible seat belt 14 (See FIG. 6). The clip portion 12 is made of hard plastic and measures approximately 2 inches tall and 4 inches wide. The clip portion 12 has a first half portion 16 and a second half portion 18. The first half portion 16 and the second half portion 18 are attached together at a first end by means of a hinge 20 and at a second end by means of a clip 22. The first half portion 16 of the clip portion 12 includes a blade portion 24 extending along the mid section of the first half portion 16.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the seat belt cutting device 10 in an open condition in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the clip 22 may be released to open and close the clip portion 12 around the seat belt 14 (See FIG. 6) for a tight fit. The blade portion 24 includes a movable blade 26 and a handle 28 attached to the movable blade 26 to pull the blade 26 along the midsection of the clip portion 12. Additionally, the movable blade 26 may be spring-loaded and would contain a lock snap (not shown) on one end.

[0024] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate side and sectional views of the seat belt cutting device 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively. The clip portion 12 has a cavity 30 with slotted parallel openings 32 on either side to direct the seat belt 14 there through. The movable blade 26 extends longitudinally in the cavity 30 along a surface of and across the seat belt 14 (See FIG. 6). The movable blade 26 has a protected serrated cutting edge disposed at one edge of the seat belt 14 (See FIG. 6) and inclined thereto for slitting the seat belt 14 (See FIG. 6) from side to side.

[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates the seat belt cutting device 10 attached to the seat belt 14. The seat belt cutting device 10 is configured to be mounted on the seat belt 14 of a vehicle for cutting the seat belt 14 following an accident or some other serious vehicular mishap. The seat belt cutting device 10 is portable but may be also permanently attached to the seat belt 14. The seat belt cutting device 10 could also be integrated into the design of new-production vehicles, being included with each three-point safety harness of the car or truck. The seat belt cutting device 10 can be any color to be quickly and easily seen and used when needed.

[0026] The seat belt cutting device 10 provides the motorist with a quick and easy means of escaping the interior of the vehicle if the seat belt 14 is jammed or was malfunctioning. In the event the vehicle is involved in an accident or caught in fire and the seat belt 14 is jammed, the seat belt cutting device 10 is used to free the vehicle occupant. The vehicle occupant grips the seat belt cutting device 10 and moves the movable blade 26 by means of the handle 28 which in turn cuts through the seat belt 14 strap webbing in the cavity 30 of the clip portion 12. The vehicle occupant could be quickly freed from the seat for escape or extrication by the paramedics on the scene.

[0027] The seat belt cutting device 10 provides safety, easy access, and has a user-friendly design. Instead of being unable to escape a seat following a wreck or some other emergency, the seat belt cutting device 10 could slice the seat belt 14 in half to quickly exit the interior. This could mean the difference between life and death in a fire, flood, or following a collision when immediate medical assistance is required. The seat belt cutting device 10 would also be lightweight, reliable, affordable, compact, and user-friendly.

[0028] While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.